Former Edo State governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has publicly opened up on the discord between himself and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, declaring that the Senate President sees him as “the devil.”
Speaking during the Sunday edition of MIC ON PODCAST, Oshiomhole alleged that Akpabio harbours deep suspicion and bias against him despite his contributions to the All Progressives Congress and President Bola Tinubu’s electoral victory.
He said, “Don’t forget that I was a founding governor of the APC and Deputy DG of Bola Tinubu Campaign Council that gave us victory. I’m not saying I am responsible for the victory, but I worked for it, and I’m happy we got it.
“He (Akpabio) is so paranoid about anything that has to do with me. Everybody in the senate knows that if Senator Akpabio have his way, he will lock me out of the senate because he has misled himself into thinking that I am probably the devil he knows. There are many angels he doesn’t know,” he said.
The former Nigeria Labour Congress president also hinted at growing dissatisfaction among senators over Akpabio’s leadership style, insisting that the current Senate arrangement may not survive beyond the 10th Assembly.
“The 11th Senate will not be like the 10th, this I can say. It can’t be. Senators are grumbling about his style of leadership. But we try to manage, and I’ve tried to assure him that ‘Look, Mr Senate President, I am a very fulfilled person.’
“Whatever job I am given to do, I ask God to give me courage and even greater wisdom to do that job to the satisfaction of my constituents. The Senate President’s bias against me is very well known. I will not join in speculating as to the reason for his bias,” he stated.
Oshiomhole further alleged that Akpabio becomes uncomfortable whenever he interacts with certain lawmakers on the Senate floor.
According to him, one of such incidents involved Senator Abdulaziz Yari, who reportedly sought to serve as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior.
He said, “Many people in the Senate know. In fact, if I go around the floor of the Senate and I go greet certain persons and we have conversations, the man becomes uncomfortable. I will give you an instance.
“Senator Yari approached the Senate President and said that he wanted to be the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior. I am the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior. The Senate President said to him, so you want to join Senator Oshiomhole to plan how to remove me as Senate President? But I just laugh it off.”
Oshiomhole also reminded Nigerians that the office of the Senate President is not absolute, stressing that senators ultimately determine who leads the chamber.
“If you understand the way the Senate works, the Senate President is first among equals. Only the persons favoured by the Senators are elected.
“Remember, if Senator Yari had got the majority, he could have become the Senate President. It is not about what anybody wishes. It is about who the senators want,” he warned.
The comments come amid the controversy trailing Oshiomhole’s recent attack on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, where he described the organisation as “a bunch of criminals and thieves.”
Following the remarks, the Senate distanced itself from the comments, insisting they reflected Oshiomhole’s personal opinion and not the official position of the Red Chamber.
During plenary last week, the Senate also adopted a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, clarifying that no Senate committee has the power to issue or execute a warrant of arrest without the approval of the Senate President and strict compliance with the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
The resolution followed reports that the Senate Committee on Public Accounts had recommended a warrant of arrest against former NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, for allegedly failing to honour invitations by the committee.
Efforts to get a reaction from Akpabio’s media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, were unsuccessful as calls and messages sent to him were not answered as of the time this report was filed.
